Why is it we crave the foods that are unhealthy for us and struggle to eat the foods that are good for us? Some would say that unhealthy food tastes really awesome. But, according to research, there’s actually more behind it.
In a New York Times Magazine piece, ‘The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food,’ the writer shares that junk food cravings have been engineered by food manufacturers to get you addicted. Many snacks have the perfect blend of sugar, salt, and other chemicals so you end up wanting more.
You don’t have to be a slave to this. With enough effort and the right tactics, you can eat less junk food over time.
Try these tips below:
1 – Implement the 5 ingredient rule: If the food label has more than 5 ingredients, it’s an indicator that there are processed ingredients. This is important to know so you don’t fall victim to chips and pre-made cookies that are stuffed with unhealthy ingredients.
2 – Shoot for the big 3: For snack time, try to eat a small portion of 3 different foods so you can get a variety of textures, flavors, and nutrients.
3 – Stock up on healthy food: The biggest pitfall when starting on a healthy food journey is when you don’t have any healthy snacks handy. It can be very tempting to grab a candy bar or chips. If you have healthy snacks handy, you’d grab those just as readily as you would unhealthy snacks.
4 – Get the facts: If you really want to kick the junk food habit, dig a little deeper to find out what you’re really eating. Many of the preservatives come from disturbing sources.